Advanced Hospital Coding and CCS Prep (Voucher Included)

Facility coding (hospital coding) is one of the best-paying sectors of the coding profession. If you're already performing some aspect of facility coding, the Advanced Hospital Coding (AHC) course will fill in the gaps, making you a more marketable employee. If you're currently working in a physician's office or other ambulatory care setting, this course will give you the edge you need to advance in the workplace.

Hospital coding is rarely an entry-level position, and most hospital coders are required to be certified. AHC covers advanced, hospital-specific coding and billing procedures and is designed to help you meet the challenge of today's changing standards. This course utilizes your existing knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare sciences. Upon completion, you will receive a voucher to take the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam.

1. Hospital Structure, Billing, and Insurance
   1. Introduction
   2. Hospital Structure and Organization
   3. Revenue and Reimbursement
   4. Payment Methods
   5. Cost Controls
   6. Healthcare Payers
   7. UB-04 and CMS-1500 Claim Forms
2. Ethics and HIPAA Administrative Simplification
   1. Introduction
   2. Ethics
   3. HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
   4. Electronic Data Interchange
   5. HIPAA Safeguards
   6. Fraud and Abuse
3. Inpatient Acute Care Diagnosis Coding
   1. Introduction
   2. Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS)
   3. Medical Record Documentation
   4. Electronic Health Record (EHR)
   5. ICD-10-CM Layout and Navigation
   6. ICD-10-CM Guidelines
   7. Diagnostic Coding Steps
4. Regulatory Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Inpatient Care
   1. Introduction
   2. ICD-10-CM Chapter-Specific Guidelines
   3. Principal and Additional Diagnoses
   4. Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs)
   5. Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS)
   6. Complications and Comorbidities (MCC and CC)
   7. Present on Admission (POA) and Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC)
   8. Reporting Requirements and Physician Queries
5. ICD-10-PCS Inpatient Procedure Coding
   1. Introduction
   2. ICD-10-PCS Organization and Structure
   3. ICD-10-PCS Root Operations
   4. ICD-10-PCS Guidelines
   5. ICD-10-PCS Sections
6. Outpatient Coding: CPT and HCPCS Level II
   1. Introduction
   2. Outpatient Reimbursement Systems
   3. Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
   4. Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs)
   5. Outpatient Code Editor (OCE)
   6. National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
   7. CPT Code Categories
   8. Evaluation and Management (E/M) Codes
   9. Anesthesiology, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology/Laboratory, and Medicine Sections
   10. CPT Appendices
   11. Modifiers
   12. HCPCS Level II
7. Data Quality, Compliance, and Auditing
   1. Introduction
   2. Data Quality
   3. Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
   4. Coding Compliance
   5. Internal and External Coding Audits
8. Career Roadmap
   1. Introduction
   2. Succeeding in a Gig Economy
   3. Your Skills and Qualifications
   4. Resume and Cover Letter
   5. Using Email and Social Media
   6. Connecting with Others
   7. The Interview
   8. Salary Negotiation
9. CCS Exam Preparation
   1. Introduction
   2. Exam Eligibility
   3. The CCS Exam
   4. Coding Review Resources

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows XP or later.
• Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download the Flash Player.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• Coding and Reimbursement for Hospital Inpatient Services
• Professional Review Guide for the CCS/CCS-P Examination (1yr access to e-book)

You should have the current year's version of the following materials for the Advanced Hospital Coding & CCS Prep Course. Before purchasing, please check the AHIMA website for the Allowable Code Books List for the CCS certification examination.

You must have these materials:

• Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
• Healthcare Professional Coding System (HCPCS) Level II
• ICD-10-CM
• ICD-10-PCS

Prerequisites:

This is not an entry-level course. Before taking this course, you should have previous coding experience or education and have completed either the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with Medical Billing and Coding course or the Medical Billing and Coding course.

CCS candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

• By Credential: RHIA®, RHIT®, or CCS-P® OR
• By Education: The following courses MUST be completed; anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic/procedural and CPT coding; OR
• By Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
• By Credential with Experience: CCA® plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
• Other Coding credential from other certifying organization plus one (1) year coding experience directly applying codes.

If you do not qualify for the CCS exam, you may still be eligible for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA®) an entry-level certification exam offered by AHIMA or the American Association of Professional Coders Apprentice level certification, the Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC^TM). This course will prepare you for those certifications as well, and you'll find more information about them in the Certification Prep lesson at the end of the course.

1. Can I register for courses if I am an international student?

Yes, because ed2go courses are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.

2. How long does it take to complete a course?

All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start them when you want and finish them at your own pace. Upon registering, you're given six months to complete this course.

3. Do I have to buy additional materials?

If you don't have access to current coding books, you'll be responsible for obtaining them.

4. Does this course prepare for National Certification?

Yes, the Advanced Hospital Coding course prepares students to sit for the Certified Coding Specialist exam offered by AHIMA.

5. Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

6. What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.

7. Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

8. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

9. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online courses and what are the system requirements?

In order to take our online courses, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

10. Can I use a Mac?

Yes, you can use a Mac for this course.

11. How can I get more information about the course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the right. You may also call us at 1-855-520-6806. We will answer your questions promptly.

12. When can I start the course?
Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready.

Please note: Once the course curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.

13. What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not completing in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable to complete, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that a fee may be charged for an extension.